Furukawa Rock Drill US brings explosive end to stack.
You would think that a company that has built its name on producing top-notch hydraulic breakers would insist that its products were used to fell an ageing smoke stack within its US facility. But instead, Furukawa Rock Drill (FRD) USA called for the blasters.
A crowd of about 250 watched as a demolition crew used explosives to bring down the C.L. Gougler Co. smokestack, now located on the FRD campus.
Jeff Crane, president of FRD USA and a third-generation Gougler employee, invited Gougler retirees, city officials and other guests to watch the demolition.
“It was emotional to see that thing fall,” Crane said. “It sure meant a lot to a lot of people.”
Crane said Japan’s Furukawa Co., which purchased Gougler Industries in the early 1990s and later renamed it FRD USA, cared about the company’s history, but could no longer justify spending large amounts of money for upkeep of Gougler’s corporate headquarters and main manufacturing plant.
Butcher and Son Excavating began tearing down the buildings, which were only being used for storage, in February.
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